2.5 Harassment

2.5 Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence Policy

Purpose: Normandale Community College will not tolerate sexual harassment or sexual violence toward its students, faculty or staff.

Part 1: Definitions

Sexual harassment includes any deliberate or unintentional unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical contact of a sexual nature when submission to such conduct is made, either explicitly or implicitly, a term or condition of an individual's employment or academic status, when submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as a basis for employment or academic decisions affecting such individuals, or when such conduct has the purpose or effort of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment.

Sexual violence includes acts such as rape, acquaintance rape, other forms of non-consensual sexual activity; or violence or harassment based on sexual preference.

Sexual harassment is a violation of Section 703 of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended in 1972 and 1991 (42 U.S.C. S2000c. Et. Seq.), the Minnesota Human Rights Law (363.03 subdivision 51), and Title IX of the Education Amendments (20 U.S.C. 1681 Et. Seq.) and is punishable under both federal and state laws.

Subpart A: College administrators are charged with promoting and maintaining an atmosphere that properly deters and responds to sexual harassment.

Subpart B: All members of the College community are expected to discourage all behavior which might be construed as sexual harassment and have zero tolerance for acts of sexual violence.

Subpart C: The Campus Public Safety Office is responsible for receiving report of violations of this policy and for taking appropriate action to involve other campus officials or local police authorities.

Part 3: Sanctions

Sexual harassment and assault violate fundamental rights and the law and are causes for disciplinary action including but not limited to probation, suspension, expulsion or discharge.